Musharraf voices support for Beijing Olympics

Xinhua Beijing, April 15 (Xinhua) Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has voiced firm support for the Beijing Olympics and has said that his country has taken all measures to ensure the success of the upcoming torch relay in its capital Islamabad. “We have taken all measures to ensure its (torch relay’s) security so that the torch relay could be held in a prestigious and secure manner,” Musharraf said in a speech at Qinghua University here Monday.

“There is not one man in Pakistan who would do anything against the interests of China,” he said.

The Olympic torch relay ceremony is to be held in Islamabad Wednesday. Musharraf said he would take part in the ceremony in an interview with Xinhua prior to his China visit.

But he warned against attempts to disrupt the relay. “Any attempt by anyone to disrupt the process of the relay and create ill will is condemned by Pakistan,” he said.

Musharraf added that Pakistan firmly opposes any attempt to politicise the Games. “We think that politics must be kept out of sports. Sports generate brotherhood. If we bring politics into it, then the whole idea of sports is killed.” Xinhua